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Average earnings rise 1.4 per cent to reach £26,500 per year

Average annual earnings of full time workers in the UK reached £26,500 in the year to April 2012 as a slight increase in pay was observed.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed a 1.4 per cent increase in salaries as part of its survey of UK worker hours and earnings.

ONS data also detailed a shrinking gender pay gap, which has fallen below ten per cent for the first time since comparable records began in 2000. Experts claim female workers are “steadily chipping away” and have reduced the gap from 10.5 per cent down to 9.6 per cent.

Skynews.com says the current gap represents a difference of £100 per week. This came after average male earnings scaled 1.4 per cent to reach £546 per week, while women’s climbed by 1.9 per cent to hit £449.

Reflecting on the current situation, a spokesman for the department for culture, media and sport said: “This is good news. But the gender pay gap still remains too large. One big reason for this is that too many women are going into the sort of professions that don’t give them the opportunity to reach their earning potential.”

According to freshbusinessthinking.com those jobs in London are still the highest paid of all, with a weekly wage of £653. By comparison, a typical employee in Wales can expect to earn just £453 per week.

ONS researchers also found that hourly pay between full-time and part-time workers is rising. Those looking for regular work may now want to search for full-time opportunities, as the gap rose from 57 per cent in 2011 up to 59 per cent in April of this year.